Foldable sheet with sealable strips for forming its own mailing envelope



United States Patent [72] Inventor Virgile Raymond Habegger 9, Chemia Degallier, Versoixy-Geneva, Switzerland [2i] Appl. No. 761,945 [22] Filed Sept. 24, 1968 [4S] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [32] Priority July 18,1968, Oct. 13, 1967 [3 3 Switzerland [3 l] Nos. 10776/68 and 14357/67 [54] FOLDABLE SHEET WITH SEALABLE STRIPS FOR FORMING ITS OWN MAILING ENVELOPE 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs. 7

[52] U.S. Cl 229/925, 229/73, 229/921 [51] Int. Cl B65d 27/00 [50] Field of Search 229/73, 92.1, 92.5

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,906 2/1959 Loetscher 229/921 Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek AtwrneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A foldable sheet of paper is provided with a head part containing the senders address to one side and the recipients address to the other side, the sheet having a fold along at least one horizontal line below the head part and a fold along the vertical center line of the sheet so that the head part is visible when the sheet is folded along the folds with the recipients address on the front and the senders address on the back. Two strips are fixed to the back side of the sheet along one vertical margin of the head part and the strips are laterally extendible beyond a common edge of the folded sheet, so as to be foldable against the common edge and along respective top and bottom edges of the folded sheet for overlying and being secured to the front and back surfaces of the folded sheet at the top and bottom edges thereof, whereby to form an envelope.

PATEN-TEI] nEc SISU SHEET 2 OF 2 FOLDABLE SHEET WITH SEALABLE STRIPS FOR FORMING ITS OWN MAILING ENVELOPE BACKGROUND OF THE THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the folding of a letter sheet so as to form its own envelope.

Among the mailing envelopes of the prior art are those comprised of an ordinary letter sheet cleverly folded, of which the open sides are glued shut so as to close the letter and to keep it folded. This kind of envelope, commonly called an aerogram, requires that the addresses of the recipient and the sender be written on the back of the letterfEach of these addresses is thus found in two locations: once on the front at the head of the letter, and once on the back for the postal service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to provide a combined letter envelope which requires that the addresses of the sender and recipient be written only once.

An object of 53 the invention is to provide a sheet which can be folded and secured suchthat the head of the letter, containing the addresses of the recipient and sender, is exposed and serves as the envelope for covering the rest of the letter.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a combined letter and envelope on which the senders and recipientss addresses are each written but once and comprising a foldable sheet having a head part containing the senders address to one side and the recipient's address to the other side. According to an improvement of the invention, the sheet has a fold along at least one horizontal line located below the head part and a fold along the vertical center line of sheet so at that the head part is visible, when the sheet is folded along said folds, with the recipients address on the front and the senders address on the back. Strip means are mounted on the sheet for closing the open sides of the folded sheet to form an envelope,

' said strip means including two strips fixed to the back side of the sheet along one vertical margin of said head part to leave the face of the sheet free and completely exposed so that can be utilized in entirety. Each strip includes two arms which form an angle of about l35therebetween one end of one arm of one said strip being fixed at substantially one-third of the height of the head part and one end of one arm of the other said strip being fixed at substantially two-thirds of the height of the head part so that said strips are laterally extendible beyond a common edge of the folded sheet, whereupon the strips can each be folded once to position their one a their one arms against said common edge and their other arms along respective top and bottom edges of the folded sheet, said other arms then being foldable to overlie and be secured to the front and back surfaces of the folded sheet at the top and bottom edges thereof whereby to form said envelope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a front view of a standard size letter, according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the letter after the first stage in folding has been completed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second folding stage;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the letter ready for mailing;

FIG. 5 is a view on expanded scale of the sealing strips;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a standard size letter, according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the letter folded preparatory to mailing;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the letter ready for mailing;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing the ribbon drawn from a roll to form the sealing strips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I shows a conventional letter composed of a sheet of paper I, which may be of any suitable size, such as folio, A4, etc. The letter has an upper part 2 comprising the head, on the left side of which the address 3 of the sender is written, and on the right side of which the address 4 of the recipient is written. In accordance with the invention the novel method of folding the letter letter consists in first folding the sheet 1 along a horizontal line 5 that delimits the area of the head 2. The remainder of the letter, that is, the area 6, which contains the salutation and text, is folded so as to be covered by the head 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the area 6 is folded along the horizontal line, so that the entire area 6 is folded down behind the head 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

Next, the head 2 is folded in half, as shown in FIG. 3, along the vertical center line 8. Thus, the address 4 of the recipient appears on the front of the envelope and that 'of the sender on the back. The envelope thus obtained can be sealed shut by strips 9 and 10 which close the three open sides of the envelope.

These strips preferably have a particular shape that is illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in this FIG., each strip 9 and 10 has two arms 11 and I2, which form between them an angle of about The end 13 of each strip is glued to the margin of the side 14 on the back side of the head 2. The strip 9 is stuck at substantially one-third of the height of the side 14, and the strip 10 at two-thirds of this height. When not used, or when stored, the strips are folded on one another against the back side of the letter, as illustrated in dash lines in FIGS. I and 5. Once the letter has been written and the sheet folded, the strips are unfolded and turned over the side 14, so that the legs 12 of the strips respectively cover the major parts of the upper side 15 and the lower side 16. The strips, if gummed, are moistened and stuck to the sides 15 and I6. One-half of the strip width respectively being glued along the front and back margins of the envelope, so that the three open sides are sealed shut, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment just described, the sealing strips 9 and 10 have a particular shape. In accordance with the invention, however, these strips can be of any suitable kind, gummed or self-adhesive, and shape.

The second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, shows such possibility.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional letter according to the second embodiment, composed as in the first embodiment, of a sheet of paper I, which can be of any suitable size, such as folio, A- 4, etc. The letter has an upper part 2 comprising the head, on the left side of which the senders address 3 is written and on the right side of which the recipient's address 4 is written. In folding the letter, the sheet 1 is first folded along a horizontal line 5 that delimits the area of the head 2. The remainder of the letter, that is the area 6, which contains the salutation and text, is folded so as to be covered by the head 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the area 6 is folded along the horizontal line 7, so that the entire area 6 is folded down behind the head 2, as in the first embodiment in FIG. 2.

Next, the head 2 is folded in half, as illustrated in FIG. 7, along the vertical center line 8. Thus, the address 4 of the recipient appears on the front of the envelope and that of the sender on the back. The envelope thus obtained can be sealed shut by strips 9 fixed along the three open sides 14, 15 and 16. These strips are preferably cut from a continuous ribbon 17, which can be in the form of a roll, as shown in FIG. 10. A suitable adhesive applied to one face 18 of the ribbon, in such a manner that the central part 19 of the face is free of adhesive. The ribbon I7 is longitudinally folded along the middle, as shown at 20 and cut to length, depending upon the length of the sides 14, 15 and 16 of the envelope. These sides are then introduced into the V-shaped opening of respective ribbon strips, while at the same time reserving a spacing 21 between the respective side 14, 15 or 16 and the fold edge 22 of the strip 9. The two opposed halves of the strip are then pressed together and against the front and back margins of the respective side 14, 15, or 16, as illustrated in FIG. 9. If the face ofthe ribbon 17 is self-adhesive, the strip automatically sticks to the envelope. If the face is gummed, it must be moistened before a side 14, 15, or 16 of the envelope is put between the bent strip 9. A uniform and dependable closure along the envelope sides 14, 15, and 16 can be ensured by pressing these sides between pressure rollers or wheels capable of giving to the strip 9 the general shape illustrated in FIG. 9.

The method described and the resulting envelope of the two embodiments have the following advantages. FIrst of all, the method results in an appreciable saving of paper, since the customary envelope is eliminated, thereby greatly reducing weight, enabling a considerable saving in postage fees, particularly for airmail. Moreover, since the addresses of the sender and recipient are written but once, a letter of the invention is more quickly prepared for mailing. Letter paper of ordinary weight can also be used for air mail because of the lightweight of the combination letter envelope. The envelope of the invention preserves the conventional form of the usual letter, the arrangement of the text retaining the style used today. Moreover, the second embodiment of the invention which incorporates a strip spacing 21 that is located beyond a respective edge of the folded letter, permits the envelope to be opened automatically by a suitable apparatus, which can comprise a hopper, for receiving envelopes of the invention of a standard size and a cutter 23 that automatically severs the strip spacing 21 and thus opens the three sealed sides of the letter. The advantage of this spacing 21 is that the envelope can be automatically opened without fear of cutting off part of the letter as is frequently the case when using an automatic opener for ordinary letters. The cutting line would be safely spaced from the sides 14, 15, and 16.

The envelope, of course, can also be easily opened by hand, using an ordinary kitchen or paper knife, in which case the two opposed surfaces of the strip spacing 21 are not glued together.

It is apparent from the preceding that the folding method of the invention and the resulting envelope, permit the complete automation of the mail, by using a processor or at least an automatic accounting machine that does not require an operator. The processor or accounting machine can stamp the envelope before the latter is mailed.

The specialist in 14 art will recognize that the scope of the invention admits of numerous modifications. The area 6 of the sheet 1 can be folded in any of various ways, provided that when the folding is finished the area 6 is folded behind, and therefore covered by, the head 2.

Postage stamps affixed to the front of the envelope add a decorative note to the latter. Moreover, the cancellation mark, containing the date, is a permanent record on the letter, once it is opened by the recipient, of the date it was mailed. This feature is useful for ordinary mail and invaluable for registered mail,

In another modification of the invention, the strips 9 can also serve as the postage stamps. The post office could furnish, for example, the upper sealing strip 9. In this way, the paper and the weight of the usual postage stamp can be saved, and the device for pressing the strips 9 against the envelope can be changed into a franking machine,

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the invention are limited solely by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A combined letter and envelope on which the senders and recipients addresses are each written but once, and comprising a foldable sheet having a head part containing the senders address to one side and the recipients address to the other side, two-thirds wherein according an improvement, the sheet has a fold along at least one horizontal line located below said head part and a alo ng)strips can each center line of the sheet, so that said head 15 W51 le when the sheet other arms folded along said folds, with the recipients on the front being senders address on the back, and strip means for closing the open sides of the folded sheet to form an envelope, strip means including two strips fixed to the back side of the sheet along one vertical margin of said head part to leave the face of the sheet free and completely exposed so that it can be utilized in entirety, each said strip including two arms which form between them an angle of about one end of one arm of one said strip being fixed at substantially one-third of the height of said head part, and one end of one arm of the other said strip being fixed at substantially two-thirds of the height of said head part so that said strips are laterally extendible beyond a common edge of the folded sheet and the strips can each be folded once to position their one arms against said common edge and their other arms along respective top and bottom edges of the folded sheet, said other arms then being foldable to overlie and be secured to the front and back surfaces of the folded sheet at the top and bottom edges thereof.

2. The combined letter envelope as claimed 1, wherein each said strip is foldable so that when not in use, or when stored, it is folded back against the back side of the sheet along one vertical edge of said head part.

3. The combined letter envelope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head part alone is visible when the letter envelope is completely folded, and wherein that part of said letter below said head part contains the salutation and text of the letter. 

